Blade clod masher



Nov. 13, 1951 G. s. GREEoT-r 2,574,917

BLADE CLOD MASHER Filed sept. 14, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET l IIIIIII IIIII "III i 4 Hlm;

,rr/'Q 7 George 5. Greeaf/ I 66 30 By @vw MW Hm@ Nov. 13, 1951 G, s. GREEOTT *BLADE CLOD MASHER \\\v.`\./ Nm \\\\.|/r m uw O A5 H MMM. I 0 75N/ .Q r fr NM m f/ QQTH1- 7/ m,. m /k l l M/l/ I l l L M w. i IL 111| Imm L II I l l. v @k mv\ V .m Sm 1 D M P .w MW SvNru r\l\1\|l VL Patented Nov. 13, 1951 iff-.Ares PATENT foi-..Fi-CE George S. .Greeott, HealdsburgCalif. 1 "Application September 14, 1948;Serial'No,l v49,193l

...5 claims. (c1. 55eme) This vinvention relatesgenerally vto a" soily conditioning; deviceV and more; particularly to'asoil pulverizer or masher; and has for its primary ob. ject to reduce clodsor lumps left after plowing or harrowing -to a neonpulverized state.

Another important -obl'ect` ofA this invention .isy to; provide -famagriclnatural implement, :which mayfbeeasilyriclrafted, byfafzpowered unit, and whichfhas-aziplurality .of adjustable members adapted to engage and breakupfthe soil ina uniform-manner- 1 A :meritorious feature of '.qthisrinvention: resides in the provisionof-a plurality of assembled 'blade units,adjustablefor,positioning in various angles relative:ftortheagroundfanch adapted .to bemoved over the-f groundrn :order tof eneagevorfpulveriz the fl-umps or clodsftherein; zrnean.sgibeing provided for-'positioning .the-blades finpthe desired angle andmaintaining the .bladesinsuchposition These andancillary objects; and other gmer'itorious features are attained by this invention, a preferred embodimentrofrwhich is set yforthy in the following description and illustrated Vin vthe accompanyingdrawingswherein:

-Figure 1 is a toptplan '.viewrof lthis invention;

, Figure 2; is aside elevatonalviewrof,the center assembly; y

i Figure 3: is an YYend elevational view ,takenY substantiallyron `the fline 33 of `Figure 1^. and .looking in-,the directionof` the arrows;

Figure 4 is Va sectionalviewI takenAv substantially on the line 4 4, looking in the direction cfu-the arrows of- Figure l;

-Figure 5,is anenlarged=-sectional view' of .the center assembly, illustratingthe adjusting means providedy for positioning the blades in kvvarious anglesftheview `being taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

y Figure 6 -is a sectionalview taken substantially onthe line 6--5,-looking vin the'directiorrof the arrows, andis-a `top plan'view of Figuref, 'illustrating the center keeper iassembly; :and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary View of one edgeof the frame;v illustrating gthe; :meansg provided for drafting the blade ,assembly over the ground in association' with a powered unit.

Referring now morepartic-ularly to the drawng.S,- wherein .similar g; characters of :reference designate corresponding A:parts throughout, this invention, generally, designated by the character reference Hl, comprisesa plurality of transverse adjustable Aplates or blades, l2 ,i which `are 'pivotally mounted and assembled` l:uniigarilgyff; .thefsamexzbeingadaptec'lft for various .zangular ,z .positionings withiespectroitneigrqupd., i,

In carrying. outfthisi"invention,"v there is' pro`- vided a `pair of longitudinally extending, cooperatively spaced' keeperslor angle irons- I4 and 16, the same'beingdisposed at one end of 'the implement :10i-with a similar pair :i8 and 20 disfposedzoppositely at :the other end. With reference tdligure-` 4, itis to be notedthat thekeepers I8"and20 are ladaptedto pivotally retain La plurality of end brackets" 22, through the medium ofuafboltsassembly'24. Of course, suitable wash-g ers orthe 'like'spacing-elementsf 2B `are. provided to". space' thekeepers from' .the 'pivotally retained bracket plates'22. "E'achffbla'de l2 is welded, as `at 28, `4to 'the v'depending `erid of 'the retaining bracket plate 22. "Inter-posed and longitudinallyalextending between-"tile` two 'pair ofv end keepersy `are a pairo center keepers 3i) and32. .(ricou'rse, therjblades.f i2 larey welded as at 34 to the depending end Otanequal number of center brackety plates 36. "fTl/ie bracket `plates v36 are pivotally mounted-'between the center keepers 32 and 3sfand:areffadaptedto'be actuated by` an actuating/filmt 38': so r asltol control the `angular `positioning of the" bladesv I2, pivotallyy mounted at ea'chendin the'end'ikeepersfand pivotally carriediby the center keepers. y i

'this respect, particular attention'is directed tdlFigures 2,'f5,and"6, wherein it` 'is to be noted that' the center retaining'4 brackets 36 carrying the blades 12 at 'theendthereof are, pivotally mounted in the cente'rkeepers 32 and 30 through the mediumof a-bolt assembly 40,' having a spacingbushingfllZ or the'likeprovided. `It is to be notedv thatV each' ofk "the-end bracket plates 22 and center plates v3lfare'formed with a pairv of longitudinally aligned apertures 33 and 35 which selectively receivethe `vb`olt`-assemblies for pivotally mounting 'the plates-,to the respective cooperativefkeeper barsfiTheplates as seen Fig. 5 can thusl be reverse'dto present the front edge' fthel bladesl infgrourd contact when the back'edges become worn and, at the same time, the' plates'` will be pivoted adjacent their front edge sozthat theblades can pivot upwardly `in the keepers 'andzthe ba'ck'edgesfthereof can be dis# posed'iin' ground engagement.

Welded at one'end of thecenter keepers is a segmentali rack, AA hand lever"46 is pivotallyimountedto: the center keepers adjacent the forward end off the segmental rackM, -by means, fafbolt 248,5"the bo1t1'f43--s'ecuring the.; pivoted end'fof thehand-lever`-an`clfy theforward end of the rack to tloe"`c`enterJ keepers; 32 and 30,' with a bushing or like spacmg member 50 being interposed'between theerackandrthe lever,l asseen lin Figure 3. Of course, suitable washers or the like 52 are provided to space the center keepers apart. A pawl 54 is carried pivotally by the hand lever and is resiliently biased by resilient means 56 into released association with the notches in the rack so as to maintain the lever at the desired position. Connected to the hand lever adjacent the pivoted end thereof is an adjuster bar 58, which is bolted by bolt assembly 60 to one of the center bracket plates 36, as seen in Figure 2. Extending longitudinally and connected by a bolt assembly or the like securing means 62 to the upper end of each center bracket plate is a concontour, means may be easily attached to the lead blade 66 for enabling the same to move freely and swiftly over the' earth. Thus, a roller 80 could be journaled at the lower or groundcontacting edge of the lead blade so that the lead blade will roll over the soil instead of pushing it forwardly. In this respect, attention is directed to Figures 1, 2 and 6, wherein the preferred manner of attaching a roller or series of complementary rollers is illustrated. The roller 80 is provided at its opposite ends 82 and 84 with bearing blocks 86 and 88. The roller 80 is journaled on the lower edge or bottom of the lead nector bar or rod 64. Thus, movement imparted A to the adjuster bar 58 through the medium of the hand lever 46 is transmitted to each of the center brackets from the one connected to the adjuster bar, through the medium of the longitudinally extending connector bar or rod 64.

Secured to the forward end of the pair of end keepers and the interposed center keepers is a lead blade 66. the same being secured by bracing bars 12 and disposed on adjustable angles of attack so as to slant upwardly in front of the adjustable blades l2. A protecting transverse cap bar is welded to the top of the leader blade or plate, as seen in yFigure2. Bracing bars 12 extend from between the pair of end keepers and the center keepers upwardly and are welded or otherwise secured to the bar cap 10 so as to brace the leader plate or blade 66 and maintain the same rigid in its adjustable angular positions. The bracing bars are apertured as at 15 so that the bolt assemblies 80 extending transversely through the ends of the keepers can be selectively positioned in the apertures. Attachment of the bracing bars or brackets 12 in adjusted positions controls the angular positioning of the lead blades, as seen in Figure 2. If desired and found necessary, due to a wooded area or locale, a suitable tree guard 14 may be provided. The tree guard 14 comprises a rectangular rail, which is supported by the extending end of the end pair of keepers and the center keepers and suitably secured thereto, as by welding or the like. Thus, the bark of the tree is protected from digs by the blades, as the guard rail extends outwardly of the blades and will prohibit the engagement of the blades with trees. The front section 18 of the guard rail has a pair of laterally extending rearwardly directed end extensions 86 which are pivotally associated, as at 82, to the main section of the guard rail as seen in Figure 2, so'that the same permits the adjustability of the lead blade.

On each side of the unit, adjacent the forward end thereof, are provided a pair of jaw hooks or links 18 so that the unit may be operatively associated and attached with a powered unit and thereby moved over the ground.

Thus, it can be seen that there is provided a plurality of blades which are pivotally carried by a pair of spaced end keepers and by a similar pair of spaced end keepers, with a pair of center keepers interposed between the two pairs or sets of end keepers and pivotally carry the center portion of the blades, suitable actuating means being provided and carried by the center keepers for adjusting the angle of the blades and maintaining the blades in the set angles. It is to be noted that the entire unit is compact, formed materially and unitarily, andalso formed entire- 1y with bolt securing means orthe like, so that the same may be easily dismantled.

Y 'If desired, due to soil condition o r vthe ground blade by means of the bearing blocks 86 and 88. Thus, the ends of the rollers are journaled in brackets 92 welded in a depending manner to the lead blade. Adjusting openings 90 are formed in the brackets 92 to accommodate the ends'of the roller. Means is provided for raising and llowering the roller and maintaining the same in the adjusted position within the openings 96 in the brackets. The means preferred comprises a pair of threaded lugs 94 which extend upwardly from the bearing blocks. Apertured ears 96 extend outwardly from the lead blade and adjustably receive the lugs 94, with a pair of complementary locking nuts 98 received above and below the ears and disposed on the lugs. Of course, rectangular openings could be formed lengthwise in the lower edge of the lead blade to accommodate a plurality of spaced complementary rollers journaled in the blade edge in a manner similar to that set forth above.

Since many other purposes and objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the foregoing description, in view of the -accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that certain changes may be effected therein and coming within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A soil pulverizer comprising sets of elongated parallel bars, a plurality of blades having upper faces transversely carried by the sets of bars, each of said blades having spaced upstanding brackets formed' integrally with their upper faces, means for pivotally securing said brackets between each set of bars, and means for simultaneously rocking the blades about their pivot points.

2. A soil pulverizer comprising 'spaced sets of elongated parallel keeper bars, a plurality of plates having upper faces transversely carried by the sets of bars, each of said blades having spaced upstanding ears formed on their upper faces, pivot elementsvtransversely attached to each set of bars, said ears being pivotally journaled at their forward edges on the pivot elements and means operatively connected to the ears for simultaneously rocking the plates about the pivot elements.

3. The combination of daim 2, wherein the upper portions of said ears project upwardly beyond the bars, said last means being connected to the upper portions.

4. A soil pulverizer comprising a rectangular open frame, transversely spaced sets of keeper bars longitudinally disposed in said frame, a plurality of plates transversely carried by the sets of bars, upstanding ears formed on the plates,l fastening bolts securing each set of bars together, said ears being pivotally journaled adjacent their forward edges on the bolts, the up- "mounted on one of the sets of bars and an actuating bar connected between said lever and one of the ears.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein a, lead blade is adjustably mounted on the front of the frame, said blade having integral angespivotally aflxed to the sets of keeper bars and means for securing the blade 1n selective angular relation to the keeper bars.

GEORGE S. GREEOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 648,146 Cummings Apr. 24, 1900 782.360 Roth Feb. 14, 1905 1,462,120 Monroe July 1'7, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 107.782 Sweden July 4, 1941 

